2014 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[zooom]

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2013/05/30/motogp_s_claiming_rule_to_be_dropped_fro.html

2014 sillyness....no more CRT

[duccarlos]

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2013/05/30/motogp_s_claiming_rule_to_be_dropped_fro.html

2014 sillyness....no more CRT

Technically true. The slow bikes will no longer be called CRT.

[Triple J]

Technically true. The slow bikes will no longer be called CRT.

Because the motors can no longer be claimed by the factories. That's the key.

[ZLTFUL]

Cal being Cal...

http://www.bikesportnews.com/news-detail.cfm?newsid=9432

[Speeddog]

Pretty good interview with Michael Bartholemy:
http://www.crash.net/motogp/interview/191987/1/exclusive_michael_bartholemy_marc_vds_-_qa.html

Seems to think that Pol Espargaro is already signed to Tech3....

[DanTheMan]

So how do the seats fill up so far?

Rossi already on for next season
Spies already

Who else has contracts for 14 season?

so now we can speculate about the remaining seats...

[zooom]

So how do the seats fill up so far?

Rossi already on for next season
Spies already

Who else has contracts for 14 season?

so now we can speculate about the remaining seats...

probably easier to list who doesn't have a contract for '14

on factory machinery...
Hayden
Crutchlow
I think Bautista
Bradl I think is up this year as well

[duccarlos]

If both Bautista and Bradl are out of contract this year, I see new riders coming in. I also fear that Nicky is also on the hot seat.

[ZLTFUL]

If both Bautista and Bradl are out of contract this year, I see new riders coming in. I also fear that Nicky is also on the hot seat.

Nicky brings a LOT of US customers in the door for Ducati. As mediocre as his results have been, they have been consistently mediocre. Relegating him to a factory supported satellite bike would make sense from a marketing standpoint ("See...we still got Nicky!") than dumping him altogether.
But I would be very surprised if he held on to the factory seat very much longer.

[duccarlos]

They have the Ben on the satellite. Nicky will most likely be put to the pasture unless he can work miracles the rest of the year.

I understand the US market is very important, but they need results.

[Jester]

Nicky brings a LOT of US customers in the door for Ducati. As mediocre as his results have been, they have been consistently mediocre. Relegating him to a factory supported satellite bike would make sense from a marketing standpoint ("See...we still got Nicky!") than dumping him altogether.
But I would be very surprised if he held on to the factory seat very much longer.

You say that, but how many people honestly buy a Ducati because some cornbread Kentucky kid happens to ride around mid pack on one in MotoGP?  I'm pretty sure no one cares who is riding the bike over in Europe.  They buy the bikes for twin performance, the sex factor, exclusiveness, and to be part of the community of people that own the bikes.

[derby]

You say that, but how many people honestly buy a Ducati because some cornbread Kentucky kid happens to ride around mid pack on one in MotoGP?  I'm pretty sure no one cares who is riding the bike over in Europe.  They buy the bikes for twin performance, the sex factor, exclusiveness, and to be part of the community of people that own the bikes.

the us is their largest market (by far) and having an american on the team is very good for marketing materials no matter where they finish.

[Speeddog]

IIRC, the Nicky Hayden Edition 848's sold out ~immediately, yes?

[duccarlos]

IIRC, the Nicky Hayden Edition 848's sold out ~immediately, yes?

ben Spies edition would do the same. They don't need 2 US riders and Ben is contracted for 2 years.

[ZLTFUL]

ben Spies edition would do the same. They don't need 2 US riders and Ben is contracted for 2 years.

"Now from Ducati, the Ben Spies Edition 848*."

*Note: We aren't sure how this bike will perform as our test rider has yet to ride a fully healthy minute on the bike.